Comfort pillow



June 27, 1967 M Q. MCCULLOUGH 3,327,330

COMFORT PILLOW Filed April 12, 1965 M71 0/050 M 00L LOUGH I N VE N TOR.

ATTOPNEY United States Patent 3,327,330 COMFORT PILLOW Mildred 0. McCullough, 1918 Newcastle Drive, Los Altos, Calif. M022 Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,403

10 Claims. (Cl. -337) This invention relates to a new and improved pillow and more particularly to a unique pillow design which will protect hair stylings while sleeping as well as provide firm support to the neck and back for therapeutic purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pillow of unique design which will protect hair and curlers during sleep without causing wakefulness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pillow design which will protect hair sets while reclining or sleeping.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pillow which will relieve neck and shoulder pain.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pillow which will provide neck and head rest while traveling.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pillow which will give relief to headaches and provide support similar to that provided by a traction collar.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the drawings and accompanying description.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pillow of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the pillow shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the pillow of FIG. 1 in a folded position.

Referring to the drawings in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular there is shown a pillow comprised of three body portions 11, 12, and 13. The overall width of the pillow shown as A which is about inches in the case of a normal adult. The pillow sections will usually have a width of approximately 5 inches represented as width B in FIG. 1. The end or wing portions 11 and 12 have a length D, along the inner side which is approximately 4 /2 inches in a typical case while the entire inside length C, is approximately 10 inches in the normal case. The angle which the sides make to a vertical is shown as 0 in the drawing and can vary considerably but normally it is about to degrees. The overall vertical extension of the pillow is referred to as F and in a normal case is approximately 13 inches. The wing portions may have an outside vertical flat portion E, and is about 3 inches here. At the terminal points of the wing portions are fasteners of conventional design which mate with each other. On the end of the right hand wing portion 12 a snap 14 is provided and on the end of wing portion 11 is snap 15.

The pillow is comprised of a suitable covering such as corduroy or other material which is soft and comfortable to the touch and is filled with a suitable s'tufiing material such as dacron polyester fibers. The entire pillow 10 has a peripheral seam 101 in order to simplify construction, however, the unit can be made entirely without seams. The L-shaped central body 13 and wing portion 11 are separated by a seam 102 which acts as a hinge and likewise end portion 12 is connected to 13 by means of seam 103 so that when wing portions 11 and 12 are folded under and connected by snaps 14 and 15 the central body 13 is elevated.

In order to visualize how the pillow of FIG. 1 looks reference is now made to FIG. 2 wherein the pillow is shown in elevation view. The pillow has a height G which is normally about 4 inches and is comprised of the aforementioned wing units 11 and 12 connected to the central, L-shaped section 13, all of which have a common seam 101 above the perimeter. As mentioned above the seam is 3,327,330 Patented June 27, 1967 not essential but in many cases simplifies the manufacture of the pillow.

FIG. 3 shows the pillow in a folded position wherein wing portions 11 and 12 are folded underneath the central portion 13 and connected by means of snaps 15 and 14. Here the hinging effect of seams 102 and 103 between the wing portions 11 and 12 respectively with the central body 13 can be clearly seen. When the pillow of the present invention is folded in this manner it provides an elevation of approximately 8 inches. However, when the pillow 10 is used in the open position of FIG. 1 without folding it is most useful for hair protection while reclining or sleeping. Used in this manner, the person recently having a hairset will place her neck on the pillow so that the hair will drape over the end of the top whereby the pillow and not the hair supports the head. Also the pillow at the end portions will serve as support for the shoulders giving the person so resting on the pillow firm support and comfort for sleeping.

By using the pillow in an open but inverted position it is most useful for undisturbed sleep when the user is sleeping with curlers in place. Her neck is placed over the central portion 13 so that the weight of the upper body is on the pillow as well as a substantial part of the weight of the head whereby only 'a slight amount of pressure is exerted on the curlers themselves. As a result there is no crushing of the curlers or the hairstyle during the night and wakefulness is alleviated.

When used in an inverted position but folded so that the end portions are tucked underneath and snapped together as described above it is also useful for when curlers are worn but raises the head even higher to accommodate large curlers or a larger quantity of curlers.

In addition when the pillow is used in an upright and folded manner it is useful for hair protection when very high or full hair styles are involved. Moreover in this position the pillow is uniquely suited for providing support while traveling seated in a vehicle. Also in the upright folded position the pillow provides a firm support quite similar to a traction collar and has a variety of theraputic applications such as the alleviating of severe headaches. By adding an internal heating element to the pillow the combination of heat and unique neck support go to alleviate pains due to neck and shoulder strains.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various structural details may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An L-shaped pillow having a first arm extending for a first predetermined distance terminating at a first point; a second arm extending for a second predetermined distance terminating at a second point, said first and second arms having a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration and size; said first and second arms having transverse seams a substantial distance from said first and second points whereby the end of each arm can fold back on itself; and said first point has a fastener and said second point has a fastener whereby the first and second points can be fastened together.

2. A pillow comprising:

(a) a substantially L-shaped main body portion comprised of first and second portions which extend outwardly for substantially the same first predetermined distance, which portions have a first predetermined width and a first predetermined thickness, the first portion terminating at a first point and the second portion terminating at a second point;

(b) a first wing portion articulately connected at said first point and extending for a second predetermined distancevin substantially the same direction as the first portion, said first wing terminating at a third point and having a second predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness; and

(c) a second wing portion articulately connected at said second point and extending for a second predetermined distance in substantially the same direction as the second portion, said second wing terminating at a fourth point and having a second predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness.

3. A pillow as in claim 2 wherein the first wing has a first fastening device near said third point and said second wing has a second fastening device near said fourth point which mates with said first fastening device whereby said first and second wing portions can be folded back on said L-shaped main body portion and joined at said third and fourth points.

4. A pillow as in claim 3 wherein said first and second predetermined distances are substantially the same.

5. A pillow as in claim 3 wherein said second predetermined distance is greater than said first predetermined distance.

6. A pillow as in claim 3 wherein said first portion and said first wing are integral and hinged by means of a traverse seam substantially reducing the thickness of first portion wing at that point and said second portion and said second wing are integral and hinged by means of termined distance is greater than said first predetermined distance.

10. A pillow as in claim 6 wherein the portions and wings are of substantially uniform and equal cross-section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,094 12/ 1922 Gingras 5-347 X 2,409,820 10/1946 Zimern 5337 X 2,577,595 12/1951 Tobias 5338 X 2,961,668 11/1960 Hayes 5-337' FOREIGN PATENTS 1,049,523 8/ 1953 France.

3,311 2/ 1906 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN L-SHPAED PILLOW HAVING A FIRST ARM EXTENDING FOR A FIRST PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TERMINATING AT A FIRST POINT; A SECOND ARM EXTENDING FOR A SECOND PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TERMINATING AT A SECOND POINT, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION AND SIZE; SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARMS HAVING TRANSVERSE SEAMS A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND POINTS WHEREBY THE END OF EACH ARM CAN FOLD BACK ON ITSELF; AND SAID FIRST POINT HAS A FASTENER AND SAID SEC- 